Discover Torres Del Río

Torres del Río can be considered from two specific perspectives when planning a trip: its church architecture and the route of the Camino de Santiago through the town and the surrounding landscapes. The buildings tell of different periods in art history; the route, meanwhile, connects a river crossing, a settlement, and a cultural landscape.

Churches and architectural history

The Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro was built in the 12th century and served as a funerary chapel and a beacon for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Its central plan is polygonal and octagonal. The elevation is also octagonal: three levels, divided by continuous cornices, support a smaller octagonal upper section. The architectural forms imitate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This means the plan, structure, and architectural model can all be considered together in one building, rather than classifying the church only by its location on the route.

The interior also has a distinctive architectural feature: an interwoven ribbed vault that recalls Hispano-Muslim art. This offers different aspects to consider when exploring the building—the octagonal exterior and the vault inside. The church is both a 12th-century building and a place with a special role on the Camino de Santiago.

The parish church of San Andrés represents a different period in art history. It is a work of Gothic-Renaissance architecture by Juanes de Larrañaga, dated to around 1599–1629. Its main altarpiece was created later: Pedro Jiménez Castrejana made it between 1637 and 1651. The original polychromy of the altarpiece, created by Andrés de Gauna, has been preserved. The chronology makes it possible to follow the difference between the church’s construction history and the later creation of its main altarpiece.

The Camino de Santiago and its landscape

On the French Way stage from Los Arcos to Logroño, the route crosses the Linares River over a bridge and continues to Torres del Río. On the climb that follows, it passes the Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro. Another route description takes the Camino de Santiago from the church up to the upper part of the town and onward to the Ermita de la Virgen del Poyo. For navigating this stage, the route description thus identifies the river crossing, the climb through Torres del Río, and the onward path to the ermita.

After Torres del Río, the Camino de Santiago passes through vineyards, olive groves, and almond groves before reaching the Cornava river plain. The route thus moves from the settlement through agricultural landscapes and eventually into a river plain. If architecture is your main interest when planning your trip, the churches offer specific architectural forms and art-historical dates. If your focus is more on the route, the stage and the succession of landscapes offer a different way to explore the town.

Townscape and getting there

The town center has an irregular layout because of its position on the slopes of a hill. Steep, narrow lanes characterize the town, along with Baroque manor houses and decorative coats of arms. These features help you consider the town’s layout and architecture together: the hillside shapes the plan, while the lanes and buildings define its architectural character.

Tourist directions for traveling from Pamplona take you along the A-12 motorway toward Logroño and then via the NA-1110 road. Check current road conditions before setting off. This lets you consider the journey separately from the decision of whether to plan a visit to Torres del Río mainly for its churches, as part of the Camino de Santiago, or with both in mind.

Discover more destinations: Atondo, Arantza, Enériz, Murchante, Galbarra, Gallipienzo Antiguo, Araitz, Saragüeta

For the broader travel overview: Navarra.